Everyone is launching AI tool review sites right now. Most will fail. Here is what actually works — and what does not.
The Gold Rush Is Real
AI tools are booming. New products launch weekly. Affiliate commissions range from 20% to 50%. The math looks incredible on paper.
But here is what nobody tells you: the market is brutally competitive, and generic content gets buried.
What Does Not Work
Generic “Top 10” Lists
Search for “best AI writing tools” and you will find thousands of identical articles. Same tools, same descriptions, same affiliate links. Google knows. Readers know. Nobody wins.
Reviewing Tools You Have Never Used
Readers can smell fake reviews instantly. The details are wrong, the screenshots are stock photos, the comparisons are surface-level. Trust dies immediately.
Chasing Every New Tool
A new AI tool launches, you rush to publish a review, and three months later the company pivots or dies. Your content becomes dead weight.
What Actually Works
Deep Expertise in a Niche
Do not review every AI tool. Review AI tools for a specific audience. AI for developers. AI for marketers. AI for podcasters. Own a category.
Real Usage, Real Screenshots, Real Opinions
Show your actual workflows. Include screenshots from your account. Share failures, not just successes. This is what builds trust.
Comparison Content
“Claude vs ChatGPT for content writing” performs better than generic reviews because it answers the actual question buyers have.
Tutorial Content
“How to use Midjourney for product photography” ranks and converts better than “Midjourney review” because it shows clear value.
The Numbers
Realistic expectations for a new AI affiliate site:
- Month 1-3: Zero to minimal traffic. Building content.
- Month 4-6: First organic traffic. Maybe first commissions.
- Month 6-12: $500-2000/month if content quality is high.
- Year 2+: $5000+/month possible with consistent effort.
Anyone promising faster results is selling courses, not building sites.
My Approach
I only review tools I actually use. I include affiliate links where relevant. I tell you when something is not worth the money — even if it hurts commissions.
Trust is the long game. And the long game is the only game that works.